Guest Column from State Representative Jim Buchy

SB 5 Becomes Law — What is in the Bill?

The contentious Senate Bill 5 was signed into law by Governor Kasich on Thursday, March, 31st. As a legislator for 18 years prior to this current term I can attest, never before have I seen a bill with so much controversy, yet so much time spent ensuring it is the best possible piece of legislation. The changes made to Senate Bill 5 from introduction to law were extensive, mostly because there were many good ideas from major unions and constituents in this district and others. Throughout the process education of the public has been crucial and with the passage of the bill, that remains a goal of mine.

The public employees of Ohio are public servants and the sacrifices they have made over the years both tangible and intangible are all too often forgotten. The work of teachers, police officers, firefighters, transportation crews, and those who work in our public agencies is appreciated by my colleagues and me. As public servants we must all cooperate to turn Ohio in a better direction and close an 8 billion dollar budget gap. With the recent release of Governor Kasich’s budget it is clear many public employers will face grave budget situations in the near future. Public employers should use the tools they have to work with staff for a cooperative approach that allows for a balanced budget with appropriate staffing levels. In the Ohio House I support two measures 1.) a pay cut for all state level elected officials 2.) a change to current law that will allow myself and other “retire-rehire” elected officials to opt-out of state pensions saving the state pensions and the state of Ohio as much as $5,000 annually per official that opts-out. The contents of Senate Bill 5 will offer public employers the tools to accumulate similar savings in labor costs.

When Senate Bill 5 goes into affect state and local government will have a set of tools that provide costs savings without ending the collective bargaining process. Senate Bill 5 does not provide for a cut in pay to any public employee. SB 5 will save money for the state of Ohio through less healthcare costs, removal of step schedules, banning of pension pick-ups or pick-ups, and changes to the binding arbitration process. During the process I heard from many constituents who did not believe this bill would save money for the State and local governments. Many public employees are willing to make the concessions needed to balance the budget. However, many parts of the Ohio Revised Code had to be changed to allow public employers to accept the voluntary concessions from public employees.

Senate Bill 5 allows public employees and employers to have more say over their performance and pay. The law has gone unchanged for 28 years; all the while the rules have been bent and pushed by court rulings. In particular there was a provision in Ohio law that mandated the collective bargaining law be “liberally construed”. Employers’ rights at the bargaining table were not defined and were constantly washing away like sand. This has been costly to the public. Strikes have not happened regularly under collective bargaining law, but the act of striking is not acceptable in the public sector because that is a work stoppage on the tax payer’s dime. The threat of strike has tied the hands of public negotiators. Public employees should take home a fair wage and SB 5 ensures public employees ability to negotiate for that wage at the bargaining table. I will continue to work for more jobs, a balanced budget, and a better Ohio.